Brake mechanism



Nov. l5, 1938. DE FQREST H. SEELEY 2,136,806

y BRAKE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17, 1937 75 m 57 6'8 37 m 0 l 5940 7707 40 f 9 H l5 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES BRAKE MEcnANrsM De Forest H. Seeley, Painted Post,N. Y., auignor to Ingersoll-Band Company, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 17, 1937, Serial No. 175,025

2 Claims.

This invention relates to brake mechanisms, and more particularly to a brake mechanism for a rotary member, as for example an axle of a wheeled mounting for portable compressor outfits.

One object of the invention is to assure a full area of contact between the surfaces relied upon for effecting the braking function. I

Another object is to construct a simplified brake mechanism that is quickly responsive to the will of the operator and which may be readily and cheaply maintained in eiiicient operating condition.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing in which similar reference numerals refer to similar parts,

. Figure 1 is `a side elevation, partlybroken away,

of a portable compressor outfit equipped with brake mechanism constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the brake mechanism, and

Figure 3 is an elevation, in section, of acontrol device for the braking mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 20

well known manner, to the compressor for driving it. Suitable transmission mechanism (not shown) may be interposed between the drive shaft of the motor 26 and the axle 22, for impelling the compressor outfit along the rails I9.

The compressor and the motor may be enclosed by a cover 21, and on a portion of the platform 2l, outside of the cover 21 in the present instance, is a-storage receiver l28 for compressed huid conveyed thereto from the compressor by a pipe 29. A tank 30 shown arranged above the receiver 28 serves as a fuel storage'for the motor 26.

The brake mechanism, constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention and designated in its entirety by 3| is shown associated with the axle 23 and arranged between the wheels `24. It comprises a pair of flanges 32 and 33 which encircle the axle 23 and have trunnions 34 through which thev axle 23 extends. In the trunnions are key slots 35 to receive the projecting portions of keys 36 seated in the axle (Cl. 18E-452) 23. The flanges 33 are thus keyed to the shaft 23 to rotate therewith. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the flanges 32 and 33 with respect to the axle 23 and'assure a correct spacing of the anges, screws 31 are threaded through the trunnions and have stems 38 that extend into sockets 39, and on the screws 31 are lock nuts 40 to prevent unauthorized unthreading of the screws.

Preferably the flanges 32 and 33 are adequately buttressed by inclined ribs 4l that extend longitudinally of the trunnions 34, `and the confronting ends of the flanges 32 and 33 constitute braking surfaces 42 and 43 for cooperation with a braking element 44 interposed between the braking surfaces to retard the movement of the axle 23 or to bring the axle to a state of rest.

The braking element- 44 'comprises a pair of carriers 45 and 46 having iianges 41 and 49 which respectively confront the flanges 32 and 33 and carry on their outer surfaces friction members 49 to frictionally engage the braking surfaces 42 and 43. The friction members are in theform of disks. 'I'hey may be of any suitable material and are shown as being secured to the carriers by rivets 50.

On the inner surface or end of the flange 48 are a pair of annular 'walls 5l and 52 arranged concentrically with respect to each other to deine an annular chamber 53 for the reception of similar Walls 54 and 55 on the flange 41. The confronting surfaces of the walls 5I and 54 are in slidable engagement with each other, as are Aalso those of the walls 55 and 52 in order to assure a 'nice sliding fit between the carriers 45 and 46. Preferably, however, a sealing ring or packing member 56 is arranged in the periphery of the wall 55 to effect a seal between the walls 55 and 52 and, for a like reason, a sealing member or ring 51 is arranged in the periphery of the wall 5I to engage the inner surface of the wall 54.

VThe space between th'e walls 54 and 55 is in the form of an annular groove 58 which communicates with the chamber 53. The bottoms or ends of the chamber 53 and the groove 58 constitute actuating surfaces 59 and 60, respectively, against which pressure fluid acts for actuating the carriers 45 and 46 toward the braking surfaces 42 and 43. The pressure fluid employed for this purpose 'is derived from the storage receiver 28 and conveyed to the actuating surfaces 59 and 60 by conduit means 6I connected to the storage receiver and to the wall 52 of the carrier 46 interposed in the conduit means 6l is valve mechanism 82 for controlling the flow of pressure uid to and from the actuating surfaces. The valve mechanism comprises a casing 88 having a ange 84 which seats upon the platform 2| and may be secured thereto by' screws 85. The casing 88 is hollow throughout, having a bore 88 comprising an enlarged portion 81 at its lower end to receive a guide member 88 which is threaded into the casing.

The guide member is in the form of a plug to seal the lower ond of the bore 88 and has connected thereto a section 88 of the conduit means leading to the storage receiver 28. The section 88 opens into a passage 18, in the end wall of the guide member 88, whereby communication is aiforded between the section 88 and a recess 1| in the guide member. Preferably the inner end of the guide member is of smaller diameter than the portion 81 of the bore 88 to provide an annular space or passage 12 around the guide member and into which space pressure fluids may ilow from the recess 1| through ports 18 in the guide member. v

Adjacent the portion 81 of the bore and opening thereinto is a reduced portion 14 having a seat 15 at its juncture with the portion 81 for a valve 18 which is normally pressed against the seat 15 by a spring 11 in the recess 1|. The portion 14 serves to convey pressure fluid from the portion 81, in the open position of the valve 18, to a port 18 in the casing 88 and to which port is connected the section 18 of the conduit means leading to the annular chamber 58.

The means whereby the valve 18 is actuated to the open position is in the form of a plunger 8|) which extends slidably through the bore 88 and carries at its lowermost end a valve 8| lying within the portion 15 of the bore and cooperating with a seating surface 82 in the innermost end of the portion 14 to effect a seal at this point. The valve 8| is threadedly connected to a reduced stem 88 of the plunger, and near the juncture of the stem 88 and the main body portion of the plunger is a bevelled surface 84 to cooperate with a similar surface 85 in the bore 88 to prevent the passage of pressure fluid through the portion of the bore containing the stem 88 during the time the parts are in position to admit pressure fluid into the annular chamber 58. A

In the casing 82 is a port 88 which opens into the bore 88 above the seating surface 85 and serves as an atmospheric exhaust port through which pressure fluid utilized for actuating the braking element may be exhausted to the atmosphere.

The range of movement of the plunger is such that when the valve 8| is seated upon the surface 82 the bevelled surface 84 will lie above the exhaust port 88 so that the exhaust port will be normally in communication with the portion of the bore 88 lying between the seating surfaces 82 and 85. To the end that the plunger 88 may be held in this position a spring 81 is disposed about the upper end of the plunger to seat against the casing 88 with one end and with its other end against a button 88, carried by the plunger, and against whichmanual pressure may be applied, as .with the foot of the operator, to shift the plunger to the var;`ous controlling positions.

As a preferred arrangement, the braking element is mounted upon and supported by the axle 28, and a bearing surface is provided therefor to engage the axle in the form of a bushing 88 inserted in the wallv5| to which it may be amxed aS by press-fit, or otherwise.

'I'he braking element which is the non-rotatable element of the brake mechanism is held thus by an arm or brace of V-shape anchored to the platform 2| as by a bolt 8|. On the free ends of the arms 82 and 88 of the brace are blocks 84 which lie between the outer portions of the flanges 41 and 48 of the carriers and are pivotally connected to the carriers by bolts lying outside of the peripheries of the flanges 82 and 88. The bolts 85 are of such length that their ends project beyond the ends of the carriers, and on the projecting portions of the bolts are springs 88 which act against heads 81, of the bolts, and against the carriers to normally maintain the friction members 48 out of engagement with the braking surfaces 42 and 48.

In practice, whenever it is desired to' apply braking effect to the axle 28 the plunger 88 is depressed to hold the bevelled surface 84 against the seating surface 85 and to unseat the valve 18. Pressure fluid will then flow from the storage receiver through the conduit section 89 into the channels in the casing 88, thence through the conduit section 18 yinto the annular chamber 58 and, acting against the surfaces 58 and 80, will move the carriers 45 and 48 outwardly and press the friction members into frictional engagement with the braking surfaces 42 and 48.

The degree of force with which the friction members are pressed against the braking surfaces depends, of course, upon the amount of pressure fluid admitted into the annular chamber, and this, as will be readily understood, may/be varied according to need by varying the duration of the charging period of the chamber 53. After the required amount of pressure fluid has been admitted into the annular chamber the plunger 88 is released and the spring 81 then shifts it into a position in which the valve 8| seats against the surface 82 to prevent the escape of pressure fluid to the exhaust port 88.

When it again becomes necessary to relieve the pressure in the braking element the plunger 88 is depressed somewhat to move it into a position in which both the valve 8| and the bevelled surface 84 are out of engagement with their respective seating surfaces. In this way an open channel is established-between the conduit section 18 and the exhaust port 88 so that the pressure fluid in the annular chamber 58 may be exhausted to the atmosphere. The springs 98 will then move the carriers 45 and 48 toward the lfilictllrs 84 angehoc; them there to maintain the r c on mem rs out of contact ing surfaces 42 and 48. with the brak Iclaim:

1. Brake mechanism, comprising a rota ber having a pair ofy braking surfaces, arypginf carriers between the`braking surfaces, extensions on the carriers in telescopic engagement with each other to define a pressure chamber, friction members on the carriers to engage the braking surfaces, means for controlling the flow of pressure fluid into and from the pressure chamber, stop means for the carriers, means extending through the carriers and the stop means to hold the carriers against rotary movement, and springs on the last mentioned against the can'iers to normally maintain the friction members out of engagement with the braking surfaces.

2. Brake mechanism, comprising a rotary member having a' pair of braking surfaces, a pair of means acting 70 carriers, bolts lying outside of the peripheries of the braking surfaces and extending through the carriers and the stop means to hold the carriers against rotary movement, and springs on the bolts acting against the carriers to normally maintain the friction members out of engagement with the 5 braking surfaces.

' DE FOREST H. SEELEY. 

